The Probate Fee Has Increased to £526: What Does This Mean for Families and Executors?

When someone dies, there is already a lot for a family to deal with. Alongside the personal experience of losing someone, there can suddenly be paperwork, phone calls, financial decisions and unfamiliar legal terms to understand. Probate is often one of them.

And if you’ve been named as an Executor, you may find yourself responsible for making decisions about an estate at a time when you’re also dealing with the loss of someone close to you.

One of those decisions now comes with a higher price tag, as the probate fees 2026 changes mean applying for probate costs considerably more than it did last year.

Probate fees 2026: what has changed?

From 13 July 2026, the probate application fee in England and Wales increased from £300 to £526 for estates valued at more than £5,000.

It’s a significant increase. But before worrying about finding another £526, it’s worth understanding exactly what the fee is, who pays it and, importantly, whether you actually need to apply for probate in the first place.

What is the probate application fee in 2026?

From 13 July 2026, the probate application fee is £526 for estates valued at more than £5,000. Estates worth £5,000 or less do not pay the application fee.

It’s important to make clear that this is a Probate Registry/HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) fee. It isn’t a fee set by Laurelo or another probate provider, and it shouldn’t be confused with the separate cost of professional probate support.

There has been one reduction within the changes.

If you need additional copies of the Grant, copies ordered at the same time as your application now cost £2 each, rather than £16. Copies ordered at a later date cost £16 each.

It’s worth thinking about how many copies you might need when making the application, particularly if you’re likely to be dealing with several banks, investment providers or other organisations.

But before paying the new £526 probate fee, there is an even more important question to answer.

Do I actually need to apply for probate?

Not every estate requires a Grant of Probate, and this can sometimes come as a surprise to families.

Whether probate is required depends on what the person owned, how their assets were held and the requirements of the organisations holding those assets.

For example, some banks and financial institutions may release smaller balances without requiring a Grant. Assets held jointly may also pass directly to the surviving owner, depending on how they were owned.

Estates involving property, investments or larger financial assets are more likely to require a Grant.

Every estate is different, which is why we believe the best place to start is by understanding what is actually in front of you.

When you’re grieving, it can be tempting to simply start working through the list of things you think you’re supposed to do. But before paying an application fee or committing to professional services, taking a little time to understand the estate can save unnecessary work, expense and worry later.

At Laurelo, our first question isn’t “How quickly can we start the probate process?”

It’s “What does this family actually need?”

Sometimes that means applying for probate and supporting a family through the administration of an estate. Sometimes it means providing guidance while an Executor manages parts of the process themselves. And sometimes probate isn’t required at all.

The important thing is understanding which situation applies to you.

Who pays the £526 probate application fee?

The probate application fee is normally considered an expense of administering the estate.

In practice, an Executor or Administrator may initially need to arrange payment, particularly if they cannot yet access money belonging to the estate. The fee can generally then be reimbursed from estate funds.

We also recognise that £526 can be a considerable amount of money to find upfront.

That’s particularly important because an Executor may be dealing with other expenses at the same time, while access to the deceased person’s accounts can be restricted.

Understanding which costs can ultimately be paid or reimbursed from the estate can therefore be an important part of planning the administration.

Can I get help paying the probate application fee?

If you’re on a low income or receive certain benefits, you may be eligible for support through the Government’s Help with Fees scheme.

Depending on your circumstances, this can provide help towards certain court and tribunal fees.

If you’re concerned about finding the £526 application fee, it’s worth checking whether you’re eligible for support before making your application rather than assuming you need to pay the full amount.

Can I apply for probate myself?

Yes.

You don’t have to use a professional to apply for probate.

For some straightforward estates, an Executor may feel perfectly comfortable completing the probate application and dealing with the administration themselves.

And if that’s right for you, there is no reason to pay somebody to do work you’re comfortable doing yourself.

For other people, the responsibility can feel very different.

There may be property, investments or tax matters to deal with. You may be worried about making a mistake. You might live some distance away, have work or family commitments, or simply not have the time or headspace to take on the administration yourself.

And sometimes it’s not about whether you could do it.

It’s whether you want to.

Dealing with an estate can involve months of paperwork, correspondence and decisions. For some families, having someone else take care of that work is worth paying for.

Neither approach is right or wrong.

Our role is to help you understand what’s involved so you can decide what feels right for you.

You don’t have to understand everything straight away

Probate has its own language, processes and paperwork. Most people have very little reason to know how any of it works until someone close to them dies and they suddenly find themselves responsible for an estate.

If that’s where you are now, it’s completely understandable if you’re not sure where to begin.

You might want someone to take care of the entire process. You might be comfortable handling most things yourself but want some guidance along the way. Or you may simply want to sit down with someone who understands probate and ask the questions that have been going around in your head.

That’s often where our relationship with a family begins.

Laurelo was created after experiencing first-hand just how complex and stressful probate can feel. It’s one of the reasons we’ve built our approach around putting families first, providing clear guidance and being transparent about fees.

Our initial conversation is free, and there’s no expectation that you should arrive knowing the right terminology or having every document neatly organised.

We’ll listen to what’s happened, understand as much as we can about the estate and explain your options in straightforward language.

If you decide you’d like our help, we’ll explain our pricing clearly before you make that decision.

Managing the cost of probate as an Executor

With the probate application fee increasing to £526 in 2026, it’s understandable that Executors will be paying closer attention to the cost of administering an estate.

But try not to look at the application fee in isolation.

Start by establishing whether probate is actually required. Understand what assets and liabilities make up the estate. Check whether you may qualify for Help with Fees. Think about which parts of the administration you’re comfortable managing yourself and where professional help might be worthwhile.

And if you do decide to use professional support, make sure you understand what you’re paying for and what other costs might arise.

A little clarity at the beginning can make everything that follows feel much more manageable.

Not sure what to do next?

If you’re unsure whether you need probate, concerned about what it might cost or simply don’t know where to begin, we’re here to help.

Call our Probate Advice Line: 0330 236 9080

Email: info@laurelo.co.uk

Or get in touch online: Contact the Laurelo team

Your first conversation with us is free. There is no pressure and no obligation.

Just tell us where you are with things, and we’ll help you understand what comes next.